Dan trains photographers on how to improve their photographs for a living and this showed up in his delivery and careful presentation of important aspects of photography.
1 GET OFF AUTO
With a set of specially taken photographs, Dan illustrated the pitfall of using a camera set to auto, for example you cannot control brightness in auto, which reduces the photographer ability for creative control, when perhaps you need to darken the background to put more emphasis on the main subject.
2. CHANGE WHITE BALANCE
Clear examples were shown that cameras often get the colour balance wrong, so he emphasised the importance of selecting the colour balance yourself to get a better chance of the colours being reproduced correctly.
3. USE A TRIPOD
Clearly, he prefers to use a tripod, and he brought in his to show us. However, when he is in crowded London, he carries a small tabletop tripod to rest on top of a wall etc.
4. MAXIMIZE THE SUBJECT
This was a reminder that it is important for the main subject to be evident and not competing with distracting details.
5. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS
This followed on from 4. To put the emphasis on the subject, avoid distracting details. All Dan’s points were related on what you can do to improve an image at the taking stage, so avoid distractions in the first place and not wait to Photoshop them out! (My ears are already burning!)
6. DO NOT FORGET TO MOVE
Possibly the most important point Dan made was to be prepared to move around to get the best possible image. He showed an image taken relatively low down and then another of the same subject, a fungus taken at ground level. The improvement was staggering!
7. NOTICE THE LITTLE THINGS
A reminder that even small objects can make interesting subjects. This also applies to very simple objects.
8. ENJOY THE LIGHT
Dan showed some great images taken with sun and rain together, a stark reminder to carrying on shooting regardless.
9. BE CRITICAL (BUT NOT TOO CRITICAL)
He showed an example of two shots of a waterfall, by shifting a short distance it was possible to improve the image compositionally and also instead of a corner of a rock just appearing, in the first image, the change in position showed the complete rock so it ceased to be a distraction.
10. BOOKS
I was not certain if he was trying to tell us that books are helpful or showing he had written a few.
11. HAVE FUN
This was his concluding remark. So, members, go out and take images and enjoy yourself!
PSCC would like to thank Daniel Bridges for coming in person to Park Street Camera and providing us with a very informative talk.
Terry Day
Friday, 06 May 2022